Brett named grand marshal of May 7 Kansas Speedway race

Former Royal George Brett will be the grand marshal at the May 7 Go Bowling 400 race at Kansas Speedway.

Brett, a Major League Baseball Hall of Fame member, also was one of the first persons in line to buy Kansas Speedway season tickets when the tickets went on sale before the facility opened.

“George Brett is an iconic figure not just in Kansas City but to sports fans across the country and I’m excited to have him take part in the Go Bowling 400,” said Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren. “George has an impressive resume, winning a World Series title with the Royals, a Gold Glove, an MVP award, and I’m thrilled that Kansas Speedway was able to add another accomplishment to this already extraordinary list – grand marshal.”

Brett, who played his entire career with the Kansas City Royals organization, is considered one of baseball’s greatest clutch hitters and was chosen Royals Player of the Year eight times. The 13-time All-Star was named the 1980 American League MVP and won a Gold Glove in 1985. He was the first player in Major League history to win batting titles in three decades (1976, 1980 and 1990) and the first with career totals of more than 3,000 hits, 300 home runs, 600 doubles, 100 triples and 200 stolen bases.

In 1999, Brett was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame with the fourth-highest vote percentage ever recorded (98 percent).

Tickets are on sale for the Go Bowling 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on May 7, and the Toyota Tundra 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on May 6. Tickets are available online at www.kansasspeedway.com or by calling 866-460-7223.